The Rise of Big Data

About this article

An exploration of how the explosion of digital information is shifting society's analytical paradigm from small samples to comprehensive datasets, from precision to messiness, and from causation to correlation.

Key vocabulary

transformative adjective

Causing a profound and radical change in form, appearance, or character.

datafication noun

The process of turning various aspects of life or the world into digital data that can be numerically quantified.

curated adjective

Carefully selected, organized, and looked after, usually to maintain high quality and accuracy.

correlation noun

A mutual relationship or connection between two or more things, where they tend to occur or change together.

sampling noun

The technique of selecting a representative group from a population to estimate characteristics of the whole.